Water blaster

ABSTRACT

A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a container portion, a receiver portion, and a grip portion. The container portion includes a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening. The first opening comprises a trap door valve. The second opening comprises a vent valve attached to a trigger located in the grip portion. The third opening is in liquid communication with a liquid ejection system.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No.62/572,413, filed on Oct. 13, 2017.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Devices generally designed to disperse water in a controlled manner overa distance are known in the art as “water blasters” or “water guns.”Typically used to amuse children, a user may use a blaster to shoot orapply a stream of water to a desired target. Once the blaster's internalwater storage or reservoir runs out, the user must then fill up a tankwith water or other liquid. This process is lengthy and reduces theplaytime of the child or user; therefore, reducing the enjoyment of theblaster.

The present disclosure introduces a new water blaster with a novelstructure to fill the water reservoir of said blaster. An exemplaryembodiment of the currently disclosed invention utilizes a trap-doorvalve to open and close the blaster's reservoir. A user can plunge atleast part of the water blaster into a source of liquid, open the valve(for example, by a linkage, by liquid pressure, or some other manner),and then remove the water blaster. This action refills the reservoir andseals the trap door valve shut with the weight of the captured liquid.

One aspect described herein is a liquid dispensing apparatus, comprisinga container portion, a receiver portion, and a grip portion. Thecontainer portion includes a first opening, a second opening, and athird opening. The first opening may comprise a trap door valve; thesecond opening may comprise a vent valve attached to a trigger locatedin the grip portion; and the third opening may be in liquidcommunication with a liquid ejection system. The trap door valve mayfurther comprise a flap and a structural element capable of supportingthe flap when the container portion contains liquid. The flap may bemade of a flexible material. Said flexible material may be comprised ofmagnetic material. The first opening may further include a seal elementthat is magnetically attracted to the flap. Furthermore, the flap may bemade of a rigid material. The rigid flap may include a magnetic portion,and the first opening may include a seal element that is magneticallyattracted to the magnetic portion of the rigid flap.

The vent valve in the second opening may further comprise an innerportion located within an outer portion, wherein said inner portion iscapable of actuating between a closed position and an open position. Thetrigger may be attached to the inner portion of the vent valve, suchthat displacement of the trigger will actuate the inner portion betweenthe closed position and the open position. Both the trigger and theinner portion of the vent valve may be in contact with a single spring,such that the default position of the inner portion is the closedposition.

The liquid ejection system may further comprise at least one ejectionoutlet. The liquid ejection system may comprise a pump. Said pump may bea single-acting positive displacement pump and further include aplunger. Operation of the pump would force air into the containerportion. Depression of the trigger portion would open a third valve,enabling the liquid and air in the container portion to escape throughthe at least one ejection outlet. Operation of the pump would forceliquid from the container portion through the at least one ejectionoutlet.

Moreover, the receiver portion may include at least one illuminationdevice capable of emitting light. The at least one illumination devicemay include an electrical push button. The receiving portion may furtherinclude at least one gun rail.

Also disclosed is a method for rapidly filling a tank with liquid andexpelling the liquid, comprising the steps of: submerging a liquiddispensing apparatus at least partially into a liquid source, whereinsaid liquid dispensing apparatus comprises a container portion, areceiver portion, and a grip portion, wherein the container portionincludes a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening; thefirst opening comprising a trap door valve, the second openingcomprising a vent valve attached to a trigger located in the gripportion, and the third opening being in liquid communication with aliquid ejection system; wherein pressure from the liquid source pushesthe trap door valve into an open position and a portion of the liquidsource enters the container portion. Then, squeezing the trigger,wherein the vent valve moves into an open state, enabling air to escapethe container portion. Further, releasing the trigger, wherein the ventvalve moves into a closed state, sealing the container portion andpreventing the air and the portion of the liquid source in the containerportion from escaping said container portion. And finally, surfacing theliquid dispensing apparatus from the liquid source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a rapid refill water blaster;

FIG. 2 illustrates an internal exploded isometric view of a rapid refillwater blaster;

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up side view of a rapid refill water blaster;

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up side view of a rapid refill water blaster;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a perspective cut-away view of the rapid refillwater blaster;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the front end of a waterblaster;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of the front end of a water blaster;

FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 show a sequence of operation using a waterblaster;

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 illustrates the operation of the liquid ejectionsystem of the water blaster;

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 illustrate an illumination device; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a portion of the liquid ejection system 1600.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1-14 illustrate the currently disclosed liquid dispensingapparatus. FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of rapid refill waterblaster 100. The rapid refill water blaster 100 comprises a containerportion 118, a receiver portion 105 and a grip portion 110. Thecontainer portion 118 is capable of containing a liquid, such as by wayof example water. The container portion 118 is nested within thereceiver portion 105. As illustrated, the container portion 118 containsa first opening 102, a second opening 104, and a third opening 107. Itshould be noted that container portion 118 may further includeadditional openings (such as a fourth opening, fifth opening, etc.) ormay also include less openings, such as zero, one, or two. The receiverportion 105, which can act as the main body of the blaster, includesgrip portion 110. FIG. 1 illustrates grip portion 108 as a pistol grip.The grip portion 108 may also be of a “straight” or “upland” style.Alternatively, some embodiments of the present disclosure will omit agrip portion either partially or entirely.

The front end of the water blaster 100 includes at least one ejectionoutlet or liquid ejection nozzle 106. The liquid ejection nozzle 106 maybe one nozzle, or may be more than one nozzle. By way of example, onenozzle could cause the liquid to spray out in a single stream, while theother nozzle could cause the liquid to spray out in multiple streams andin a pattern. It is anticipated that the nozzles could be changed tocreate any kind of stream pattern in the ejected liquid.

The water blaster 100 may further include a selection switch 118. Theselection switch 118 allows the user to select a particular nozzle touse by selectively opening or closing nozzles. The selection switch 118may also be used when there is a single nozzle.

The receiver portion 105 may also include at least one drainage hole120. As illustrated in FIG. 1, receiver portion 105 may include multipledrainage holes. The at least one drainage hole 120 allows liquid insidethe receiver portion 105 and other areas of the blaster to leave theapparatus.

The receiver portion 105 may further comprise a pump portion 108, whichmay be operable to be displaced back and forth by a user. The receiverportion 105 also may house an illumination device 124. In someembodiments, the illumination device 124 emits light to illuminate atleast a portion of the water blaster 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates an internal exploded isometric view of a rapid refillwater blaster 200. Structural element 202, seal element 204, flapportion 206, and retainer portion 208 can be sandwiched together to forma one-way trap door valve 205. The one-way trap door valve is housedwithin a receiver portion 210.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up side view of a rapid refill water blaster,similar to the outlined portion 212 of FIG. 2. A tank portion 316 iscapable of holding a liquid, and interacts generally with a liquidejection system 300. As a plunger 302 and pump 306 are moved and openedup, liquid can move from the tank portion 316 through a one way entryvalve 310 and into a chamber 308. As the plunger 302 and pump 306 aredepressed, the liquid exits the exit valve 312 and moves through theselection switch 314 and is expelled through a nozzle.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up side view of a rapid refill water blaster400, similar to outlined portion 214 of FIG. 2. A trigger portion 404 isattached to an inner portion of a valve 416. The trigger portion 404 iscapable of being depressed, which depresses a spring portion 408 anddisplaces the inner portion 416. The inner portion 416 moves within anouter portion 414 enables liquid to flow in and out of the tank portion412, through the outer portion 414, and out through an opening 410. Whenthe trigger portion 404 is not depressed, the spring portion 408 acts toplace the inner portion 416 into a position where liquid can no longerflow between the tank portion 412 and the opening 410. This location ofa water blaster 400 may also include a loop portion 402.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a perspective cut-away view of the rapid refillwater blaster 400 and the valve assembly in action. FIG. 5 illustratesthe valve in a closed position, while FIG. 6 illustrates the valve in anopen position. The closed position identifies a state where the tankportion is not in liquid communication with the vent 410, while the openposition identifies a state where the tank portion is in liquidcommunication with the vent 410. Depression of the trigger portion 404may cause a transition between the two states. However, in alternativeembodiments the valve may be opened by way of a handle, switch, lever,button, or any other means, which may or may not be independent of thetrigger portion. When the valve is in the open position, the check valvemay allow liquid to fill the container portion, such as placing a hoseexit near the second opening.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the front end of a water blaster 700. The frontend of the water blaster has a flap 710 which may be rigid or mayflexible. Illustrated is a flexible flap held against a seal element 708and structural element 704 by a retention element 712.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first opening with a one way trap doorvalve contains magnetic components which enable the trapped door valveto remain shut even when the container portion 118 contains a small, butsignificant amount of liquid. By way of non-limiting an example, theflap 710 may comprise magnetic or magnetically attractive materials. Theseal element 708 can also contain either magnetic materials ormagnetically attractive materials. Thus, when the trap door valve is ina closed state, the magnetic attraction between the flap and the sealelements will ensure that any displacement or quick movement of thewater blaster as a whole will not inadvertently set the trap door valveto an open state therefor losing some liquid contents of the containerportion. The attraction between the flap and the seal element candramatically reduce or even eliminate the necessity for reseal pressure.Reseal pressure is generally known as the pressure necessary in order toseal the one way check valve such that no liquid flow will be permittedto exit out of the valve.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that any means ormethod to increase attraction between the seal element and the flapelement of the one way valve will be suitable to prevent this kind offailure mode. By way of non-limiting example, things such as adhesivesor spring tension could also be used to ensure that the pieces stay shutand sealed even when there is a minimal amount of liquid in thecontainer portion.

In an additional embodiment of the disclosure, the seal element is maybe made to be unnecessary to prevent liquid from escaping the containerthrough the first opening. In this embodiment, the flap element in theclosed state could comprise a material capable of forming a seal withstructural element, without the need for some sort of intermediary sealelement. Further, the structural exterior element in one embodiment maybe formed such that a seal is made around the flap element.

Additionally, the present invention may include a lattice structure 702which is outside of and supports the flap element and in someembodiments the seal element. The lattice structure is permeable toliquid and is strong enough to structurally support the flap elementagainst water or liquid pressure exerted by the contents of thecontainer portion 118 against the flap. While typically this pressure isuseful to make sure that the first opening trap door valve stays sealedduring operation, the pressure might overwhelm a flexible seal elementor a flexible flap element. By layering a structural grid latticeelement that is permeable to water or liquid behind the flap element,the flap element will have sufficient strength to resist that waterpressure without displacing or bending due to that pressure. Thepermeability of the lattice structure ensures that the container portionis still capable of rapidly filling with liquid.

FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 show a sequence of operation using waterblaster 900 to rapidly refill the container portion. In FIG. 9, thewater blaster is lowered 902 into a source of water 904. The blaster 900is in a default closed state, where no liquid communication of thecontainer portion can occur.

FIG. 10 illustrates the filling of the container portion. Once theblaster 900 is at least partially submerged within a source of liquid904, the trigger portion is depressed and the rear valve is opened. Theopening over the rear valve permits air to escape the container portion.As this occurs, liquid pressure opens up the front one way valve andfills the container portion.

FIG. 11 illustrates a closing of the rear valve assembly and a lifting908 of the water blaster up out of the source of liquid 904. The liquidnow captured within the container portion presses back against the frontone way valve, closing the valve shut against a seal element and preventthe water from escaping the container portion.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 illustrates the operation of the liquid ejectionsystem of the water blaster. FIG. 12 illustrates the operation of theliquid ejection system 1200 when the pump grip 1202 is extended out,pulling the plunger 1204 out and introducing a vacuum in cavity 1206.The vacuum causes liquid stored in the container portion to enterthrough a one-way valve 1210 to fill the vacuum in the cavity 1206. Thevacuum in cavity 1206 also causes the valve 1208 to seal shut.

FIG. 13 illustrates the liquid ejection system when the pump portion iscompressed, by a pulling of the pump grip 1202 and the plunger portion1204. This causes a pressure to form in cavity 1206 and the one-wayvalve assembly 1210 to shut closed. The pressure opens the valveassembly 1208, and the liquid in the cavity 1206 exits through a tube,passes through a selector switch, and exits out through a chosenejection nozzle.

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 illustrate an illumination device 124, which may belocated on the receiver portion 105 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Theillumination device 124 is capable of outputting a source of light, andthe wavelength or color of the light may be selectable. For example, auser may choose to have the light source output a blue light, a redlight, a green light, or some combination of those three.

A push plate 1508 is in contact with a button interface 1506, which isin direct contact with an illumination source 1504. The illuminationsource 1504 may have a source of power, such as a button cell battery,and may also include a push switch. A housing 1502 holds the apparatustogether and interfaces with the receiver portion of the water blaster.

FIG. 16 illustrates a portion of the liquid ejection system 1600. A pumpportion 1606 forces liquid into a tube 1604, which transfers liquid to aselector switch 1602. The selector switch 1602 can be adjusted to divertthe liquid from the pump portion 1606 into one of two ejection nozzles1610.

There are multiple other embodiments of the present disclosure. Forexample, the container portion could be capable of being pressurized. Inthis embodiment, the pump can be operated to force air into thecontainer portion, thus increasing the pressure of the container portionrelative to the outside atmosphere. A pull of a trigger or operation ofanother device may then open up a nozzle, propelling the water out ofthe nozzle and towards an intended target via the pressure differential.

In another embodiment, the liquid ejection system of the presentinvention could also operate as a vent valve. In this embodiment, theremay be a lever or a button that would open up a valve within the liquidejection system to enable water and air to flow freely as the containerportion is filled with liquid.

Additional embodiments may include a one-way valve with a ball-valvedesign. In this embodiment, the ball-valve, or a ball will be locatedwithin a small tube and the ball is allowed to freely move. If the ballis located at either end of the tube, it will seal that valve shut. Thiswill operate in a similar manner to retract the door one-way valve ofthe present invention. It is further contemplated that in otherembodiments any kind of check valve can be used in opening of thedisclosure. By way non-limiting examples, the check valve could be aball check valve, a dye frame check valve, a swing check valve, atilting disc check valve, a clapper valve, a stop check valve, a liftcheck valve, an inline check valve, a duck-bill valve, or pneumaticnon-return valve. In other embodiments, any kind of valve at all mayalso be employed, so long as it is capable of preventing liquid fromescaping the water blaster in an unintended manner.

In even more embodiments of the disclosure, the liquid ejection systemcould be used to create a vacuum inside the container portion. In thisembodiment, water from a water source would enter the container portionin order to fill that vacuum, thus filling the container portion in arapid manner.

In an additional embodiment, devices which do not fully seal movement ofair or liquid may be used as replacements for fully sealable valves. Byway of non-limiting example, a tesla valve could be used to permit airto leave the container portion as it fills. The rapid refill of thecontainer portion can occur where the second opening has no kind ofvalve action and rather is in continuous interaction with the outsideatmosphere. In such embodiments, it would be preferable that a long pipeor angled pipe could be used in order to prevent the liquid contentsfrom the container portion 118 from exiting through the second openingwhen the water blaster is in use. For example, a large U-shaped pipecould be used such that the removal of the liquid through the secondopening would require a specific rotation of the water blaster, the kindof which may be unlikely to occur during ordinary operation.

Further, an embodiment of the present disclosure employs a mechanicallinkage between a trigger portion and the first opening. In this manner,depression of the trigger portion will open a check valve and allowliquid to enter the container portion.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising: acontainer portion, a receiver portion, and a grip portion, wherein thecontainer portion includes a first opening, a second opening, and athird opening; the first opening comprising a trap door valve; thesecond opening comprising a vent valve attached to a trigger located inthe grip portion; and the third opening being in liquid communicationwith a liquid ejection system.
 2. The liquid dispensing apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the trap door valve further comprises a flap and astructural element capable of supporting the flap when the containerportion contains liquid.
 3. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 2,wherein the flap is a flexible material.
 4. The liquid dispensingapparatus of claim 3, wherein the flexible material is magnetic and thefirst opening includes a seal element that is magnetically attracted tothe flap.
 5. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 4, wherein theflap is a rigid material.
 6. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 5,wherein the flap includes a magnetic portion and the first openingincludes a seal element that is magnetically attracted to the magneticportion.
 7. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ventvalve further comprises an inner portion located within an outerportion, the inner portion capable of actuating between a closedposition and an open position.
 8. The liquid dispensing apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the trigger is attached to the inner portion of thevent valve, such that displacement of the trigger will actuate the innerportion between the closed position and the open position.
 9. The liquiddispensing apparatus of claim 8, wherein both the trigger and the innerportion of the vent valve are in contact with a single spring, such thatthe default position of the inner portion is the closed position. 10.The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid ejectionsystem further comprises at least one ejection outlet.
 11. The liquiddispensing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the liquid ejection systemcomprises a pump.
 12. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 11,wherein the pump is a single-acting positive displacement pump andincludes a plunger.
 13. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 12,wherein operation of the pump forces air into the container portion. 14.The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 13, wherein depression of thetrigger portion opens a third valve, enabling the liquid and air in thecontainer portion to escape through the at least one ejection outlet.15. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein operation ofthe pump forces liquid from the container portion through the at leastone ejection outlet.
 16. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1,wherein the receiving portion includes at least one illumination devicecapable of emitting light.
 17. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim16, wherein the at least one illumination device includes an electricalpush button.
 18. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein thereceiving portion includes at least one gun rail.
 19. A method forrapidly filling a tank with liquid and expelling the liquid, comprisingthe steps of: submerging a liquid dispensing apparatus at leastpartially into a liquid source, wherein said liquid dispensing apparatuscomprises a container portion, a receiver portion, and a grip portion,wherein the container portion includes a first opening, a secondopening, and a third opening; the first opening comprising a trap doorvalve, the second opening comprising a vent valve attached to a triggerlocated in the grip portion, and the third opening being in liquidcommunication with a liquid ejection system; wherein pressure from theliquid source pushes the trap door valve into an open position and aportion of the liquid source enters the container portion; squeezing thetrigger, wherein the vent valve moves into an open state, enabling airto escape the container portion; releasing the trigger, wherein the ventvalve moves into a closed state, sealing the container portion andpreventing the air and the portion of the liquid source in the containerportion from escaping said container portion; and surfacing the liquiddispensing apparatus from the liquid source.